Spanish gastronomy: winter getaways

In summer, Spain receives millions of tourists: its thousands of kilometers of beaches and good weather are a lure that attracts English, German, Dutch, American and other travelers from all over the world. But there is a different and unknown Spain, of which we hardly hear about: the Spain that gathers in winter to enjoy the gastronomy of the season.

These are some of the Spanish provinces where you can enjoy Spanish gastronomy dishes designed for winter: León, Asturias, Cáceres, Teruel and Ávila are five of them. Winter dishes include meats and preserves, but also different types of stew, among them the surprising cocido maragato, and different elaborations of the seasonal product of each area.

Inland Spain by car

The west of inland Spain is the least visited area of the country. Let's take the A66 highway and the provinces it crosses as a reference to discover some of Spain's most surprising and lesser-known destinations. The A66 motorway links Gijón and Seville, crossing the provinces of Asturias, León, Zamora, Salamanca, Cáceres, Badajoz and Seville.

Travelling around Spain by car is a real pleasure, but it is important to know the local rules before you get behind the wheel. Let's start the journey!

Gijón is the most important port in Asturias. The city is turned towards the sea and its beach is one of the most visited in the north of Spain. One of the first stops on the route will be in Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, to discover some of the most important monuments of Pre-Romanesque Art in Spain.

Crossing the Pajares pass we enter the second province on our route, León. In the capital of the kingdom of the same name, the Cathedral of León and the Basilica of San Isidoro are a must-see. In the Barrio Húmedo we will enjoy one of the best tapas areas in Spain. And for lunch, we will go deep into the heart of the province to discover the cocido maragato (chickpea stew) and the gastronomy of Astorga. Make the most of your visit to discover Astorga Cathedral and the Episcopal Palace, the work of Gaudí.

We enter the province of Zamora via Benavente, but we'll stop off in the capital, located on the banks of the Duero River. It is one of the smallest provincial capitals in Spain, a good example of what has been called "empty Spain". Its quiet streets are full of monuments that tell us about a past that has little to do with today.

Next stop: Salamanca. Thousands of Erasmus students from all over Europe know Salamanca. The city lives at the pace of the academic calendar. The quality and quantity of monumental buildings that adorn its streets is impressive. If we want to get to know the province in more detail we can consider a trip to Ciudad Rodrigo, a town on the border with Portugal known for its impressive walled enclosure and its Cathedral.

On the way to Cáceres. Like Salamanca, Cáceres is a World Heritage City. Several scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed in its streets. If you liked the series, you'll enjoy strolling through its streets and discovering them for yourself.

We continue our route towards Badajoz. The motorway crosses the province without passing through the capital, but it is well worth a visit to discover it. And we must also visit Mérida, which has some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Spain. A curiosity: a Roman road linked Mérida and Astorga (in León) following a trade route known since antiquity. The A66 motorway is the current version of this millenary route, revised and extended.

End of journey: Seville. We have left behind the forgotten Spain of the west to arrive in one of the most famous and visited cities in Spain. Let's enjoy it!Tsite

The best black pudding is in Spain

According to recent studies, black pudding is loaded with protein, potasium, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc... It is a real superfood!

Did you know there are bars in Spain where black pudding comes free with your drink? In medium cities such as Leon black pudding is frequently found in the tapas' list. La Bicha is a tiny pub that offers one of the best black puddings in the world - if not the best.

If you want to try black pudding in Spain you can start practising your pronunciation, for the word 'morcilla' is a bit tricky: how to pronounce morcilla.

Head Northwest to discover the hidden Gaudi

Gaudi is a well-known Spanish architect, and most of his works are located in and around Barcelona. There are, however, three fantastic buildings by Gaudi that await the curious traveller in the Northwest.

Comillas is a small city renowned by its architecture, somewhere between the mountains and the sea in the beautiful province of Cantabria. El Capricho, by Gaudi, is a beautiful summer villa built in 1885. Its ceramic wall decoration is found in later works by Gaudi (so is the beautiful portico). Other must-see architectural wonders in Comillas are the Sobrellano Palace and the Pontifical University.



Astorga is a cosy city in the province of León, less than three hours by car from Comillas. Its Bishop's Palace (designed in 1883) is one of Gaudi's earlier masterpieces. It can be seen both as a palace and as a castle, the result being a disneyesque neo-gothic building where every detail tells a story of brilliance. Don't miss the chapel inside. There is more to Astorga than the Palace, and the three-coloured Cathedral or the Chocolate Museum are also worth walking into. Astorga is well-known by its gastronomy, so don't miss the filling cocido maragato (or try the local tapas, free with your drink).


León, a half hour trip from Astorga, is home to the Casa de los Botines, a very personal work by Gaudi he accepted during his stay in Astorga.